Stirrup.



' PATENTED DEC. 1, 1903.;

J. B. DOWBLL.

STIRRUP.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4. 1903.

NO MODEL.

Tatented December 1, 1903.

PATENT OFFIcE.

JOHN B. DOWELL, OF BEDFORD, lOlVA.

STIRRUP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 745,332, dated Decemberl, 1903- Application filed April 4, 1903. Serial No. 151,106. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LJQHN B. DOWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bedford, in the county of Taylor and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stirrups, of which the followin g is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to stirrups, but more particularly to a device or appliance for yieldingly supporting'the stirrup with relation to the saddle.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a yielding supporting means for the stirrup so as to take up any jarring to which the rider would be subjected owing to the gait of the horse. 1

As is well known, some animals have a characteristic gait which is at variance with ease in riding, and with the ordinary saddle considerable inconvenience would be experienced due to the lack of ease of the travel of the animal.

By the use of the invention hereinafter to be described the difficulty of riding a horse not especially trained as a saddle-horse will be overcome.

In carrying out the spirit of the invention certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts are employed which will be specifically set forth in the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is aview in elevation of a stirrup I and the means for attaching it to the saddle;

and Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the housing, the stirrup and yielding supporting means being shown in elevation.

The reference-number 1 designates a depending fender, usually employed on a common construction of riding-saddle, and this fender is provided with a plurality of perforations arranged in vertical series, there being two series for each fender which coincide with similar openings 3, formed at or adjacent to the respective edges of the elongated basestrap 4, which is to be fastened to the fender by means of suitable lacing or other fastening means, whereby the housing or inclosing casing is formed for the yielding support of the stirrup, to be referred to hereinafter.

From each side of the saddletree depends a strap 5, which is riveted or otherwise secured to the strap 4 intermediate its ends in any suitable manner, and the depending extremity of the strap 5 is fastened to the strap 4, forming which and the strap 4 is a horizontal bar of a buckle-frame,(designated by the referencenumeral 7.) Between the points of attachnient of the strap 5 to the strap 4 are parallel vertically-disposed slots 8, 9, and 10, arranged adjacent to the horizontal bar of the buckleframe 7, to which the pivoted tongue 11 is secured and which projects through the intermediate slot 9.

The reference-numerals 12 and 13 designate longitudinally-disposed springs which constitute yield able supporting means for the stirrup fastened to the lower extremity of said springs by means to be described hereinafter. Each spring is formed of a series of convolutes with terminal hooks l4 and 15, en gaging links or eyes, (designated by the reference-numerals 16 and 17, respectively.) The links 16, carried-by the upper hooks of the respective springs, are sleeved on the transverse bar of the buckle-frame and project through the parallel slots 8 and 10, so that the longitudinal strain exerted by the weight of the rider will be on the buckle-frame and the strap 5, which supports it. The lower extremities of the springs 12 and 13 are connected to an approximately D-shaped loop 18, having perforations in the top parallel bar thereof which are engaged by the rings or links 17, above described. The stirrup is adjustably supported with relation to the D- shaped loop 18 by a suitable strap, (designated by the reference-numeral 19.) This strap carries a loop 20 at one end, the inner portion of which is intersected by the end of the strap which forms an intermediate partition. In attaching the stirrup to the loop 18 the strap 19 is first formed into a loop 21 by passing the free end thereof through the loop 20, thence through the loop 18, and through the opposite side of the loop 20, after which the free end of the strap is carried around thehorizontally-disposed supporting-bar 22- of the stirrup 23. The free end of the strap 19 is provided with a line of holes or perforations 24 to be engaged by the pivoted tongue 25,

a supporting-loop b, interposed between carried by the buckle-frame 26, suitably supported within the loop formed by the strap 19. The tongue 25 is designed to enter in one of the perforations or holes 24, so that the stirrup can be longitudinally adjusted with relation to its supporting means to accommodate it to various requirements.

The lower extremity of the base-strap 4 constitutes a perforate tongue 27 to be adjustably engaged by the tongue 25 of the buckleframe 26.

By reference to Fig. 2 it will be observed that under normal eonditions or when the springs are retracted a certain amount of slack occurs between the points of adjustment of the strap 4 to the buckle-frame 26 and the point of attachment of the strap4 to the strap 5. This will permit the springs to expand when sufficient pressure is exerted upon the stirrup 23; but the limit of expansion will be governed by the amount of slack in the depending portion of the strap 4. Thus if an abnormal resistance is offered to the springs any liability of their becoming overdrawn will be prevented by reason of the limit of movement governed by the tongue 27. Any determined limit of movement within two extremes can be prearranged by engaging the proper opening 24 by the buckletongue 25. Any tendency of the springs 12 or 13 to swing away from the base-strap 4 will be obviated by the guide 28, terminally secured to the strap 4 and passing transversely over the springs, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. It will be obvious that the springs and their accessories, which might deteriorate from contact with rain or other atmospheric conditions, are effectually protected within the housing or casing formed by uniting the fender and the base l, between which they are interposed. It will also be apparent that any vibration upon the stirrup 23 which would ordinarily be imparted thereto from whatever causewould be materiallylessened if not wholly absorbed by the springs 12 and 13.

Thus ease in riding could he had without any especial training of the rider to accomm odat-e himself to the gait of the particular horse 011 which he happened to be mounted.

I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact details of the construction shown, but reserve the right to make such slight changes and alterations as may suggest themselves from time to time and fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with two straps attaehed to each other to form a loop, of an expansion-spring, means within the loop and projecting through a slot in one of the straps for engaging the spring, a stirrup connection carried by the spring and means for adjustably engaging the connection whereby the limit of expansion of the spring can be governed.

2. The combination with a strap formed with slots, of a bar supported by the strap and adjacent to the slots, springs, means for connecting the springs to the bar and resting in the slots, and stirrup-connecting means on the ends of the springs.

3. The combination with a strap formed with slots, of a bar supported by the strap and adjacent to the slots, springs, means for connecting the springs to the bar and resting in the slots, stirrup-eonnecting means on the ends of the springs comprising a loop the upper portion of which is engaged by the ends of the springs, and an adjustable strap carried by the loop.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in presence of two witnesses.

J OIIN l3. DOWELL. Witnesses:

JOHN S. Born, S. E. THOMPSON. 

